“We’re going to see an upper-level storm system allow precipitation to develop right over us,” said B.J. Simpson, a meteorologist at the Amarillo office of the National Weather Service. “We really expect the snow to get going after sunrise, and we’re looking at the heaviest snow from here eastward, especially Pampa, Canadian, Wheeler.”

The service is predicting about 3 to 6 inches in Amarillo, with lesser amounts to the northwest.

“It will probably be more on the wet side,” Simpson said. “The little-bit-tougher-to-shovel snow that kind of sticks to everything.”

Total accumulations could reach 6 to 8 inches or more in those areas where the snow is heaviest.

The day will begin with snow in most areas but with a rain/snow mix to the southeast, soon turning to snow.

The weather service expects snowfall to continue most of Tuesday with high temperatures in the low 30s and north winds from 10 to 20 mph, according to its website.

The rest of the week doesn’t look like an escape from winter or even a return to a normal winter.

“The highs Wednesday and Thursday are really going to depend on the snow pack,” Simpson said. “We’re going to keep the temperatures much lower than they would be. We probably won’t see any warming until Sunday.”

The service’s forecast shows a slight chance of precipitation that could come as rain or snow Thursday night.

“It’s pretty iffy,” Simpson said. “It definitely won’t be as impressive a system as this one.”

Amarillo and areas north and east were in a winter storm warning Monday night, a warning expected to last well into Tuesday.

The city of Amarillo street crews spent Monday getting ready.

“We continue to monitor the situation and have a crew scheduled to come in at midnight,” Chris Mitchell, city street superintendent, said in a news release. “As the snow starts to fall, our crews will be prepared to pour sand and salt at every signalized intersection along the city’s main arterial streets.”

Five teams including motor graders, plows and spreaders will be ready to clear areas as needed if snow accumulation exceeds 3 inches.

Forecasters said winds will blow from 15 to 20 mph.

“It won’t be a good day to be driving around if you don’t have to,” said Weather Service Meteorologist Nicholas Fenner.

Source: National Weather Service

A chance to make up ground

Amarillo normally has 0.96 of an inch of precipitation by this time of the year.